A "walkabout" survey of "Marathon Valley” is being conducted by NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity. In "Marathon Valley", the rover's operators are looking forward to use the vehicle through the impending Martian winter, and ahead of it, in order to analyze the context for outcrops bearing clay minerals.

A scene mainly showing a summit called "Hinners Point", forming part of northern edge of the valley, has been captured by panoramic camera of the rover. The image is also showing a part of the valley floor with swirling reddish zones, which is the main topic of the study.

According to Opportunity Deputy Principal Investigator Ray Arvidson, of Washington University in St. Louis, they have to do detective work in Marathon Valley for several months ahead. Arvidson added, “During the Martian late fall and winter seasons Opportunity will conduct its measurements and traverses on the southern side of the valley. When spring arrives the rover will return to the valley floor for detailed measurements of outcrops that may host the clay minerals”.

For a number of months beginning in mid- to late October, the rover team looks forward to operating Opportunity on the valley’s southern side so as to benefit from the Sun-facing slope. The site is there in southern hemisphere of the red planet.

According to Mars Exploration Rover Project Manager John Callas of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, they expect that Opportunity is capable of remaining mobile through the winter. The walkabout is looking at investigation targets in and close to the valley floor.

"We have detective work to do in Marathon Valley for many months ahead," said Opportunity Deputy Principal Investigator Ray Arvidson, of Washington University in St. Louis.

“Our expectation is that Opportunity will be able to remain mobile through the winter,” said Mars Exploration Rover Project Manager John Callas of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California.